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Younger Women with Endometrial Cancer May Have Other Health Problems As Well: Presented at SGO

By Cameron Johnston
Special to DG News

NEW ORLEANS, LA -- February 4, 2003 -- While endometrial cancer is not common among women under the age of 50 years, a recent study seems to indicate that those who develop the disease at a younger age have other risk factors for poor health as well.

Researchers found this younger group of women was more likely to be over-weight, have diabetes, and exhibit symptoms that could suggest polycystic ovarian syndrome.

In a 12-year study conducted at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, in Houston, Texas, United States, chart reviews were done for 1,311 women treated for endometrial cancer between 1990 and 2002. Results of the study were presented by Dr. Jonathan Oh, a fellow at MDACC, at the 34^th Annual Meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists.

The median age for all women at the time of diagnosis was 61 years. However, 12% (n = 161) were under the age of 50 (mean age 41.9 years). Other studies have placed the incidence of endometrial cancer at anywhere between 5 to 30%.

The mean body mass index of the 161 women was 35 and one-quarter of them were diabetic. They also had, on average, only one child each.

Most of the women had stage I disease (65%), while 8% had stage II disease, 17% had stage III disease and 8% had stage IV disease.

Of the younger women with endometrial cancer, 40 were found to have a second primary tumour, and 30 of those were seen to have a synchronous ovarian tumour, 7 were found to have breast cancer, 2 with cervical cancer, and 1 with colorectal cancer.

Interestingly, the mean BMI of the women with the second cancer was significantly lower (31.2) than in those who did not have the second cancer.

The presence of the second tumour, and the history of obesity and diabetes all suggest that there could be a link between polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometrial cancer, a suggestion that has been made before, the investigators concluded.

The researchers caution that this study was conducted at a single institution. Nonetheless, they do suggest that the trend watched to see if the incidence of endometrial cancer in pre-menopausal women is higher than previously thought.

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